New Bedford Standard Times Op-Ed written by Sen. John Kerry.

Every schoolchild in America learns about Paul Revere's contribution to the birth of our nation. But only rarely do we hear about his success as an entrepreneur. In the years after his heroic and famous "midnight ride," Revere started a business in New Bedford. He saw potential in the large-scale manufacturing of metal products, and launched a trailblazing copper company that put residents of New Bedford to work for almost 150 years.



Sadly, Revere Copper was forced to close its doors this March, leaving the families of its 85 employees out in the cold. Like many shuttered businesses, Revere Copper couldn't keep up with skyrocketing energy costs.



The numbers are striking. Massachusetts residents are paying record amounts to heat their homes, with costs for heating oil up 30 percent from last year. The Massachusetts Board of Transportation paid $25 million to power the subways and light the stations last year. This year, their energy costs will nearly double to over $42 million. But the costs of America's failed energy policy are even more widespread, and no one is feeling the pressure more than our small businesses.



Earlier this year, I chaired a hearing on the impact of rising fuel prices on American small businesses, and we heard again and again from small business owners what we already knew: The rising price of fuel ultimately leads to less consumer spending, less capital for businesses to invest in growth, and depressed profits. These same businesses are also juggling considerable increases in health care costs, diminished access to capital due to a tightening lending market, and global competition from foreign companies that aren't facing the same constraints.



It's time for the government to empower small business owners and provide them with the resources they need to take control of their energy expenses. By conserving energy and creating incentives for investment in alternative and renewable sources that don't pollute our air and don't rely on foreign oil, not only will our energy costs go down, but we'll be contributing to a cleaner, greener America, too.



I worked with Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine to help businesses with up-front costs for new energy-efficient technologies. We also direct federal agencies to reach out to small businesses and provide them with information about clean energy options. These provisions are included in a comprehensive energy bill the House and Senate are currently negotiating.



I also introduced a bill to offer grant assistance, in case of an energy crunch, to small businesses that depend heavily on fuel. This way, if fuel prices spike, businesses can expect help in exchange for committing to a plan to become more energy efficient.



We need to start rewarding people for choosing cleaner energy sources. That's why I proposed legislation to grant tax credits for alternatively fueled vehicles, energy efficient homes and commercial buildings.



Today we are fast approaching a point of no return in our fight against global climate change if we don't take action right away. To be successful, it will take the cooperation of the government, private citizens and businesses large and small. To date, the Bush administration has offered mostly procrastination and evasion. Even as we alleviate our short-term energy needs, we need to embark on a long-term strategy. The only effective way to relieve the energy cost burden on small businesses — and every resident facing a super-sized heating bill this winter — is to establish a coordinated effort to unleash American innovation and confront this crisis with the comprehensive solutions and urgency it demands.



In 2004, venture capitalists invested $1.4 billion in "cleantech" start-up companies. These companies aren't only cleaning up our environment — they're growing the economy and creating new jobs in our communities at the same time. Today there's a company in Massachusetts that has developed the technology for a plug-in hybrid car that gets 150 miles per gallon.



Massachusetts gets it. I applaud our state Legislature for their recent push to encourage the use of bio-fuels and alternative energy, and I hope that by following in Paul Revere's entrepreneurial footsteps, Massachusetts will continue to lead the way toward a brighter, greener future for our country.

Sen. Kerry, a Democrat, represents Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate. He is chairman of the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

To read this Op-Ed on the New Bedford Standard Times' website, please click here.